Howse hoping for career revival

Former Chilliwack Bruin Ryan Howse will play hockey again this fall, a year after he walked away from the game.

The Prince George native has signed with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, a minor-pro circuit.

Howse, a former third round draft pick of the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, last played during the 2012-13 season.

He split 40 games between the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Heat, then didn’t show up for Calgary’s rookie fitness testing and physicals.

He told the team his heart wasn’t into hockey, and the Flames released him.

Signing with Stockton gives Howse the chance to revive his career playing alongside a couple of old rivals. When he played for Chilliwack, Howse often clashed with Vancouver Giants Garet Hunt and James Henry.

Both are with the Thunder, and in fact Hunt captains the team.

Once upon a time, Howse was Chilliwack’s first ever bantam draft pick and enjoyed a spectacular Western Hockey League career.

In 262 games he sniped 140 goals. But he has only eight goals and 19 points in 79 minor pro games.